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marine triglyceride
fish oil
Reported Doses
Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely
Special Note
- [formulation clarification]
- Info: fish oil products contain varying amounts of omega-3-acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); see omega-3-acid ethyl esters for FDA-approved Rx product; all other preparations are not FDA-approved
Effectiveness Ratings
- [see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]
ADHD, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5.2 g fish oil PO qd
ADHD, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.051-2.513 g fish oil PO qd in pts 7-12 yo; Alt: 0.25 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd in pts 8-13 yo
allergic rhinitis prevention
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4 g fish oil providing 32% EPA and 23% DHA PO qd; Info: used in late-phase pregnancy for childhood prevention
Alzheimer dz
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.6 g EPA and 1.7 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 1 g fish oil providing 0.15 g EPA and 0.5 g DHA PO qd
aphthous ulcer (canker sores)
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1 g omega-3 fatty acids providing 0.18 g EPA and 0.12 g DHA PO qd
asthma prevention
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.2-4 g fish oil PO qd; Alt: 0.65-3.7 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd; Info: used in late-phase pregnancy for childhood prevention
asthma tx
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 20 g fish oil providing 3.2 g EPA and 2 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 17-26.8 mg/kg/dose EPA and 7.3-11.5 mg/kg/dose DHA PO qd
athletic performance
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1 g fish oil PO qd; Alt: 0.551 g EPA and 0.551 g DHA PO bid
autism spectrum disorder, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5.2 g fish oil PO qd
autism spectrum disorder, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1 g omega-3 fatty acids providing 0.18 g EPA and 0.12 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 1.5 g fish oil providing 0.84 g EPA and 0.7 g DHA PO qd in pts 5-17 yo
bipolar disorder
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 6.2 g EPA and 3.4 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 1 g EPA and 1 g DHA PO qd; 1-2 g EPA PO qd; 1.68 g EPA and 0.88 g DHA PO qd
burns
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 g fish oil PO qd; Info: used w/ collagen peptides
CABG
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4 g fish oil providing 2.04 g EPA and 1.3 g DHA PO qd; Start: day after surgery
cachexia, cancer-related
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 30 mL fish oil providing 4.9 g EPA and 3.2 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 7.5 g fish oil providing 4.7 g EPA and 2.8 g DHA PO qd; 2.18 g EPA and 1.92 g DHA PO qd
CKD
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.93-9.65 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
cognitive impairment, mild
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 g fish oil providing 0.45 g EPA and 1.29 g DHA PO qd
colorectal CA
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2 g fish oil providing 0.36 g EPA and 0.24 g DHA PO qd
COVID-19
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
Crohn dz
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2.7 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd; Alt: 1.2-3.3 g EPA and 0.6-1.8 g DHA PO qd
cystic fibrosis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: omega-3 fatty acids as 1.3% of total caloric intake PO qd
depression, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 6 g fish oil PO qd in divided doses; Alt: 0.6-4 g EPA and 0.15-2.4 g DHA PO qd; 1.5 g fish oil providing 1.05 g EPA and 0.15 g DHA PO qd; 1-2 g EPA PO qd
depression, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1 g fish oil PO qd; Info: for pts 6-12 yo
developmental coordination disorder, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 558 mg EPA and 174 mg DHA PO qd; Info: for pts 5-12 yo; used w/ evening primrose oil
diabetic nephropathy
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.86 g EPA and 1.5 g DHA PO qd
dry eye dz
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 360-1680 mg EPA and 240-560 mg DHA PO qd
dyslexia, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 480 mg DHA PO qd; Info: for pts 5-12 yo
dyslipidemia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1-6 g fish oil PO qd
dyslipidemia, HIV/AIDS-related
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 920 mg EPA and 760 mg DHA PO bid
dysmenorrhea
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.18-1.08 g EPA and 0.12-0.72 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 0.5-2.5 g fish oil PO qd
epilepsy, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1-2.8 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
epilepsy, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1-2.8 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd; Alt: 1 g fish oil providing 0.18 g EPA and 0.12 g DHA PO qd
exercise-induced muscle soreness
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.8-2.4 g fish oil providing 0.3-0.6 g EPA and 0.2-0.26 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 0.551 g EPA and 0.551 g DHA PO bid; 4.8 g EPA and 2.08 g DHA PO qd
heart failure
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.6-4.3 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd; Alt: 1 g fish oil providing 0.85-0.882 g of 1:1.2 ratio EPA:DHA
heart transplant
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4 g fish oil providing 46.5% EPA and 37.8% DHA PO qd
hemodialysis graft dysfxn
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4 g fish oil PO qd; Alt: 1.6-3.4 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
HTN
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 4-15 g/day fish oil PO qd or in divided doses; Alt: 2.04 g EPA and 1.4 g DHA PO qd; 3-15 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
HTN, cyclosporine-induced
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-4 g fish oil PO qd after heart transplant; Alt: 2-18 g fish oil providing 0.6-5.4 g EPA and DHA PO qd after kidney transplant
hypertriglyceridemia
- [Effective]
- Dose: 1-15 g fish oil providing 1.45-2.7 g EPA and 1.05-1.8 g DHA PO qd
IgA nephropathy
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 1-12 g fish oil PO qd; Alt: 3 g fish oil providing 85% EPA and DHA PO qd
impaired glucose tolerance
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.53 g/day EPA and 1.05 g/day DHA PO divided tid
infant development
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4 g fish oil providing 1.3 g EPA and 0.9 g DHA PO qd: Info: used in late-phase pregnancy
insomnia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1200 mg EPA and 600 mg DHA PO qd
joint pain
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 370 mg fish oil PO tid; Start: 370 mg fish oil PO 6x/day x5wk
lung CA
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.6 g EPA and 0.8 g DHA PO qd
male infertility
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.132-1.112 g EPA and 0.4-0.72 g DHA PO qd
menopausal sx
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1 g fish oil providing 0.18 g EPA and 0.12 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 0.3-1.8 g fish oil PO qd
metabolic effects, antipsychotic-induced
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 720 mg EPA and 480 mg DHA PO qd
migraine prophylaxis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.5 g fish oil PO qd
miscarriage prevention, antiphospholipid syndrome-assoc.
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5.1 g fish oil providing 1.5 ratio EPA:DHA PO qd
muscle strength
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4.5 g fish oil providing 2.275 g EPA and 1.575 g DHA PO qd
nausea/vomiting, gastroenteritis-related
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 2.4 g fish oil providing 55% EPA and 37% DHA PO qd; Start: 24 wk gestation; Info: for childhood prevention
nephrotoxicity, cyclosporine-induced
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 12 g fish oil providing 18% EPA and 12% DHA PO qd after liver transplant; Alt: 3-6 g fish oil providing 30% EPA and 20% DHA PO qd after kidney transplant
nonalcoholic fatty liver dz
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 2.7 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd; Alt: 0.735 g EPA and 1.6 g DHA PO qd
obesity
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 250-3360 mg omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
oral mucositis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2 g fish oil providing 0.36 g EPA and 0.24 g DHA PO qd
periodontitis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA PO qd; Alt: 2600 mg EPA and 1800 mg DHA PO qd; Info: used w/ scaling and root planing
phenylketonuria, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 15 mg/kg/dose DHA PO qd
polycystic ovary syndrome
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2.148 g EPA and 1.452 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 2 g fish oil PO qd; Info: used w/ vitamin D3
postmenopausal conditions
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.285-14 g fish oil PO qd
postop fistula
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5.42 g fish oil PO qd; Start: 7 days before surgery
postop recovery
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5.42 g fish oil PO qd; Start: 7 days before surgery
postpartum depression
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2200 mg EPA and 1638 mg DHA PO qd
preterm labor prevention
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2.7-6.1 g omega-3 fatty acids providing 1.3-2.9 g EPA and 0.9-2.1 g DHA PO qd; Start: 20-33 wk gestation
pressure ulcer
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.125-0.282 g/100 mL EPA and 0.144-0.309 g/100 mL DHA PO qd; Alt: apply 2 mL fish oil topically qd
pruritus
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2-6 g fish oil PO qd
psoriasis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3.6 g EPA and 2.4 g DHA PO qd; Alt: apply dressing topically qd x6h/day
PTCA restenosis prevention
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 6 g fish oil PO qd x1mo before procedure, then 3 g PO qd; Alt: 15 g fish oil providing 2.7 g EPA and 1.8 g DHA PO qd starting 3wk before procedure
Raynaud phenomenon
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3.96 g EPA and 2.64 g DHA PO qd
renal failure, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.95 g fish oil providing 1.05 g EPA and 0.69 g DHA PO qd; Info: up to 9 g/day fish oil has been used
renal failure, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2 g fish oil PO qd; Info: for pts 8-17 yo
rheumatoid arthritis
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 10 g fish oil providing 0.5-4.6 g EPA and 0.2-3 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 130 mg/kg/dose omega-3 fatty acids PO qd; 3-5.5 g omega-3 fatty acids PO qd
salicylate intolerance
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 g fish oil PO qd; Info: may give in divided doses
schizophrenia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2.2 g EPA and 2.2 g DHA PO qd; Alt: 540 mg EPA and 360 mg DHA PO qd
sickle cell dz
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.25 g/kg/dose fish oil providing 12% EPA and 18% DHA PO qd
SLE
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-20 g fish oil PO qd
ulcerative colitis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 4.2 g fish oil PO qd; Alt: 4.5 g EPA PO qd
URI
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2.4 g fish oil providing 55% EPA and 37% DHA PO qd; Start: 24 wk gestation; Info: for childhood prevention
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